Crystal structure and catalytic properties of a platinum–iridium mixed cluster, [Pt₂Ir₂(µ-CO)₃(CO)₄(PPh₃)₃]

Abstract

The compound [Pt2Ir2(CO)7(PPh3)3] has been synthesised from [Pt12(CO)24]2– and [Ir(CO)Cl(PPh3)2]. A single-crystal X-ray structure determination (space group P, Z= 2, R= 0.050 for 5 402 reflections) has shown that the metal atoms adopt a ‘butterfly’ configuration with the iridium and platinum atoms occupying ‘hinge’ and ‘wing-tip’ positions respectively. The mixed-metal cluster is an active catalyst for hydrogenation of olefins.